Heal yourself and show your truth

She has a vision and she is doing everything in her power to bring it to fruition.

Dynamic Andile Shozi (29), founder of non-profit organisation Unbridle Your Sparkle, said her main aim is to create a sisterhood of healing and a community of women who will assist each other and offer a safe space where people can be free to talk.

Originally from Durban, Andile moved to Lambton in 2013 and is studying towards becoming a chartered accountant.

“In between work and studying I started Unbridle Your Sparkle,” she said.

“I believe that the Holy Spirit dropped the idea into my spirit.

“The idea has been inside me for a number of years but I was always fearful to initiate it and thought I would fail.”

Andile added that she has always attracted youngsters to her, who would sit down and open up to her.

“Most of the conversations I had with them went back to abuse.

“This opened my eyes a bit more to the problems we are facing,” said Andile.

Andile decided to host her first event, which she funded herself, in September, last year.

At the event she launched her organisation.

“What makes my organisation different to other women empowerment organisations is the fact that we do not just have speakers who discuss a topic and then when the women leave they go back to the same situation,” Andile said.

“We gather around and we have a conversation with each other where everyone is encouraged to speak their truth and get in touch with their true identity.

“We also encourage women to support each other and not ‘hate’ on one another.”

Once the event is over, it does not stop there.

“At the end of the day our mission is to heal what has been broken and we go on to arrange counselling, tutors and more for those who need it and basically walk the journey to healing with the individual, helping wherever it is needed,” said Andile.

There is a WhatsApp group and one-on-one sessions are held, as well as catch-up sessions.

“Sometimes people just need someone to listen to them without judgement,” she said.

Andile believes that sharing her own story of emotional abuse also helps in the healing of others.

“When women share their stories it helps to heal others,” said Andile.

“Women also need to understand that abuse is not only physical or sexual. It can also be emotional or mental.”

The young woman is planning on visiting schools in Germiston to gather young girls around her to speak to them.

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“It is sometimes very difficult for them to come out and say something so I want them to feel comfortable to talk about things,” said Andile.

“We need to look at the root cause of problems and work from there.

“There is a lot of healing that needs to be done in our society.”

Unbridle Your Sparkle has a group of over 30 women who discuss matters and assist each other.

All generations of women are welcome.

“My vision is to have an Unbridle Your Sparkle group in every suburb of the country,” she said.

“People must understand that this is a community. We are all there for one another.”

Andile said that she is not ignoring men but feels women first need to heal, gain confidence to say how they feel and empower themselves.

“Women need to understand their worth and deal with things which have affected them.

“They also need to take responsibility and act, so that at the end of the day we can forgive,” she said.

The organisation also wants to have some fun where women can take part in boot camps, self-defence classes and other activities.

But in order to do all of these things Andile needs sponsorship.

“I want to get our name out there and I am looking for sponsors to come on board, either businesses, individuals or government,” she said.

“The sponsors will need to understand the vision of the organisation.

“If sponsors come on board we will be able to assist more women.”

Unbridle Your Sparkle is already becoming known and recently Andile received an award from Every Girl has a Dream at their True Shine Awards.

The award honoured her for her dedicated service to the community.

“I was excited to receive the award. It felt amazing,” Andile said.

“I am learning that I have a gift and I love to help people.

“I love teaching and I love women and what I am doing with the organisation fills my heart.”

If you want to find out more about Unbridle Your Sparkle, or assist Andile with sponsorship, email her at unbridleyoursparkle@gmail.com, call 083 410 0534 or find them on Instagram AndyStar1 or Unbridle_Sparkle.

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Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor) leighh@caxton.co.za.

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